Geranium plant named ‘Swero’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Swero’, characterized by its upright, rounded and compact plant habit; freely basal branching and flowering habit; pink and red purple bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Swero’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Swero’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Zonal Geraniums that have attractive bi-colored flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2000 of two proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. The cultivar Swero was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany since January, 2002 has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Swero’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Swero’ as a new cultivar and distinguish it from other known Zonal Geranium cultivars:

-   -   1. Upright, rounded and compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching and flowering habit.     -   3. Pink and red purple bi-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in flower coloration.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the cultivar First Kiss, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,168. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar First Kiss in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were shorter than plants of         the cultivar First Kiss.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely branching         than plants of the cultivar First Kiss.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had narrower flowers buds         than plants of the cultivar First Kiss.     -   4. Flower color of the new Zonal Geranium was darker and more         intense than flower color of the cultivar First Kiss.     -   5. Lower surfaces of petals of the new Zonal Geranium were pink         in color whereas lower surfaces of petals of the cultivar First         Kiss were light pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Swero’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Swero have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment, such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and averaged measurements describe plants grown during the summer in containers in Dresden, Germany, and under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 18° C., night temperatures about 16° C. and light levels ranging from 15 to 100 kilolux. Plants used for the photograph and the description were about nine months old. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Swero. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 18 days at 22° C.             Winter: About 22 days at 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—Summer: About 25 days             at 22° C. Winter: About 30 days at 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright, rounded and compact plant             habit; uniform; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit. Freely basal branching habit with about 20 lateral             branches per plant; pinching is not required.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 55 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 to 15 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 to 3 cm. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 146B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate or opposite;             simple. Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 7 cm. Shape:             Rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cordate; open. Margin:             Crenate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rough. Color: Developing             foliage, upper surface: 144A. Developing foliage, lower             surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A;             venation, 138B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 137D;             venation, 146D. Zonation pattern: None observed. Petiole:             Length: About 4 to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Pink and red purple bi-colored flowers;             semi-double rotate flowers arranged in rounded hemispherical             umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed             above the foliage on strong peduncles. Flowers face upright             to outward; flowers flat to slightly cupped. Flowers             persistent. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 25 umbels             per plant, about 10 flower buds and open flowers per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from             April until frost in the fall.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days and umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Color: 144B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About six to eight. Length:             About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: 66D; blotch, 75A;             towards the base, 66D; venation, similar to petal. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: 66D; towards the             base, close to 56D; venation, similar to petal.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about two. Length:             About 1 to 2 cm. Width: About 5 to 10 mm. Shape: Irregular             in shape. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous; crinkled.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: 66D.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: 66D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1 to 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 9 to 11 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: 146B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 to             3.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About four to eight. Anther length: About 1 to 2 mm. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther color: Brown. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Golden brown. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 to 10 mm. Stigma shape:             Five to six-parted. Stigma color: Red purple. Style length:             About 3 to 4 mm. Style color: Red purple. Ovary color: Close             to 144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from −0.5     to 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Swero’, as herein illustrated and described. 